Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-26
The Colorado Indian Trouble.
SOME FLkIS FACTS
I TIE EyYNISg S,T.p

To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR;
The people OF Colorado, with some possible ex-
ceptlons are unfair and unjust In their treatment
OF the Ute Indians. No opportunity OF involving
these Indians In trouble, or Of enirspping them
into violations OF some law is allowed 10 go uninl-
proved. White men may outrage the most solemn
OF treaties with the IMMUNITY OF road agents and
no word or remonstranCe or coude Imitation Is heard
kut let rowing Indian Hi! deer IN violation Of
the game law, and ut once a sheriff and posse
start ia pursuit, and an Indian war Is threatened
or fnaugurated. tBy the latest Intelligence IT
appears that the real cause OF the war
the stakes lost In horse race with the
Indians.) That's the truth about it however
much our Western friends may preach OF the
senimentality OF people in the East on the Indian
question. Fair play and honesty are not features
In the dealings Of the whites with these savages.
The Ute Indians OF Colorado, with few exceptions,
and far between, have always been the .ieadfast
friends OF the whites They have been courageous
and heroic In their loyalty, and frequently under
can Wei be imagined In return they have re-
ceived nothing but rebufrs and unfiiendliness.
The cause OF the present difficulty is too trivial
serious notice. IL IL were not Tor the consequences
that are threatened. Two Indian boys OF Colorow's
band killed deer out OF season. and resisted arrest
In consequence the awful ire OF the people OF the
State Is aroused, and threats OF exterminating
the Indians are heard on every hand. IL is not
worth While TO go into full explanation OF the
troubles with the Indians OF Colorado during the
past few years The sole cause, directly and In
directly, Is the fragrant disregard and violation OF
the treaties that have been made with them. BY
the treaty OF 1865 portion OF the territory, the
widest and ruggedeSt, was set apart for the abso-
lutte and undlsturbed possession OF these Indians
forever And the United States agreed that no
person excepting certain authorized agents.
should ever be permitted TO pass over settle upon
or reside In this Wild region That WAS all NJ ht.
Every body understood IL. No one wanted the
rocks and canons aud snowy peaks. II WAS an
excellent trade for the United States; millions OF
dollars were made by IL. The Indians accepted
the treaty excepting Colorow and his band;
a
pected an honest fuihlment or the compact and
the protection OF the Government.
But the treaty was not worth the paper IL was
wrtien on, and all the solemn asseN eTallunS OF the
Government were SA;meIuiy ignored Whites hunt
Ell and proSpected on the Reservation, laid claims,
opened mines and In every way openly and utterly
dlSresarued the obligation. In 1873 the head
chiefs, seeing that the Government could not or
would not project them in their rights and that
ii Was impossible TO keep the white people away,
and 10 avoid war, ceueu IA large portion OF their
reservation TO the United States, Two of the con-
sllerallonS being that they Were 10 be paid LOCO
q year, and TO have the privilege OF hunting over
the coded territory. The Government Was again
largely me gamer in dollars and GEMS, but IL did
not heed The money part OF the contract, on ac-
COUNT VI lie ldi.ure VI congress 10 hlahe the ne
cessafy appropriations; and the Inaians AZ An
learned thai when they deal With the UnHed States
they VIII be SWlndied without conjunction. There
would be volumes OF this OF history IL the ac-
counts were written out, but this viii do.
Coiorow, OF whom frequent mention Is made is
an inonenSiye Old non-cUIIbatant, Il rowing rene
gade leo-caied because lac would not sign the
treaty. Without influence In any OF the Tribes. lie
IL hot d bad Indian, as has been charged. lie Was
not In the Aeeher massacre or the attack on
Major Ihornburgh, and is not disposed TO nshe
trouble at any time. He has 1olloHing OF about
1orty, WHO hunt and nsh and roam about from
place 10 place In tue MOUNTAINS wherever their
lahcy leads them. i ain Under personal obllga-
tolS 10 The Old fellow Tor courteous treatlaeul In
the berthond Pass, at "A time when he Rad teen
badly used by white men, and might easily have
wreaked his vengeance Oh me.